By Amanda Alaniz

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JULY 3, 2023 – Summer months are the time when kids need fun, and what better fun than a camp!

Team Mario, an organization dedicated to helping families and children affected by the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), hosted its four-week Fun Fridays Summer Camp at UTRGV throughout June.

Each day was filled with an entertaining theme, activities and projects, and most recently, the theme was Lego Adventure Day. Campers participated in various STEM activities, visited the UTRGV H-E-B Planetarium to watch a short film about aviation. and colored a Lego figure. Some campers created their own version of the Caped Crusader, Batman.

The UTRGV Team Mario Fun Friday Summer Camp, which is designed to help young students with Autism develop the social skills needed to participate in everyday life, on Friday, June 23, 2023 at the H-E-B Planetarium in Edinburg, Texas. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

Jazmin Garces, a UTRGV alumna, has volunteered with Team Mario throughout her college career. She graduated with a master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in May.

She encourages other students to volunteer with the organization, and sees it as a growing opportunity to gain knowledge.

“Team Mario is an awesome group. I have honestly loved every event that I’ve been part of,” she said. “There are awesome people here that are ready to help and it’s a great organization to get a hands-on experience.”

Team Mario Fun Friday Summer Camp, which is designed to help young students with Autism develop the social skills needed to participate in everyday life, on Friday, June 23, 2023 at the Education Complex in Edinburg, Texas. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

The organization has hosted eight camps at UTRGV, with one of them virtual during the pandemic.

Lisa Beccera, Team Mario program director, said Team Mario was formulated at UTRGV nearly nine years ago.

The importance of having a camp available to children on the spectrum is to give them opportunities they may not typically have, she said.

“A lot of the time the children don’t get the chance to go to camp. Offering these inclusive opportunities – this is where they get buddies, get a chance to build something together,” she said. “All of that brings them more acceptance and more inclusion when it comes to gaining experiences.”

To learn more about Team Mario and its activities, visit teammario.org.